Newspapers

The Citizen has recently marked 125 years of reporting the local news but it wasn't Gloucester's first newspaper. In 1722 The Gloucester Journal made its appearance at a time when the city probably had a population of about 7,500. The founders were Robert Raikes and William Dicey who had already established newspapers in Huntingdonshire and Northampton.

The Citizen first appeared on the streets of Gloucester on May 1, 1876 - a four-page newspaper costing one half-penny. During the First World War public demand for news soared and throughout the war The Citizen published a special Sunday edition, reverting to six-day publication when peace returned.

In 1928, the company became Gloucestershire Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of the Northcliffe Newspaper Group.

In 1988 the printing of the papers transferred to a new plant at Staverton Technology Park where The Citizen and its sister-paper, The Gloucestershire Echo, are now produced on the latest high-speed, colour-equipped presses.